Controller for electric motors.



W. A. PARIS.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

APPLIOATIONIILED MAY 16, 1906 Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

WIITNESSES: 6%

, ATTORNEY W. A. PARIS. CONTROLLER FOR ELEGTRIG MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED IAY 16, 1906.

1,037,181. Patented Aug. 2?}1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

WITNESSES: mvfi'goR v J V BY 3W ATTORNEY W. A. PARIS. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

' V I APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1906. "1,0 7,181 l Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR I ATTIORNEY Cir upon overload or z and one group of WILLIAM A. PARIS HOUSE ELECTRIC} VANIA.

, or EDGEWOOD PARK & MANUFACTURING PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PIENNSYL- CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

Application filed May 16, 1906. Serial No. 317,222.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PARIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Alle-.

gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Controllers for Electric Motors, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to electric circuit controllers and has special reference to such devices as are adapted to effect suitable circuit connections for starting and operating electric motors.

()ne object of my invention is to provide a circuit controller, of the class above indicated, that shall be simple and durable in construction and adapted for relatively high voltage and large-current operation,

as an automatic circuitlnterrupter under predetermined conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means '.for preventing the completion of the motor-running circuits previous to the completion and re-opening of the starting circuits, and means for operating the automatic tripping mechanism by a slight movement of the control handle toward the off position from the closedcircuit positions of the controller.

For the control of an induction motor of large size and relatively high voltage it is desirable to utilize a control device which combines the essential features of a highvoltage switching device and an automatic circuit-interrupter which may be dependent other predetermined conditions for its actuation.

A form of controller which effects the aforesaid objective results may comprise two groups of movable contact members which may be similar to the contacts of well known oil-immersed circuit-breakers which, when brought into engagement with a corresponding groupof stationary contact members, effects suitable motor-starting connections and the other of which, when in engagement with suitable stationary contact members effects motorrunning connection. The. desired motion of the movable contact members may be operating effected by a single operating handle-lever which occupies a central or off position when all the movable contact members are disengaged from the stationary members, a motion of the handle through a relatively short are in either direction effecting the closure ofthe one or the other of the groups of contact members; Vlfith such a switching device, the motor supply circuits may be subjected to a serious overload if the motorrunning circuits are closed before the motor has been accelerated by closing the starting circuits. In order to avoid possibility of thus overloading the line, ing to my present invention, an arrangement of operating parts, such that the motorrunning circuit connections may not be completed until the'handle-lever has been first utilized in completing the motor-starting circuits, and in order to insure a quick interruption of the circuits when the motor is stopped, I further provide means for tripping the automatic circuit-interrupting device that is dependent upon a very short degree of movement of the operating handle from the closed circuit positions.

My invention is panying drawings in which- Figure l is a front elevation, with the case broken away,

of a circuit controller constructed in accordance therewith; Fig. 2 is a similar side elevation of the controller shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a front eleva tion of the overload adjusting and operating handle mechanisms. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating levers and release mechanism of the controller shown in the other figures.

Referring to the drawings, the controller illustrated comprises an insulating plate or slab I mounted plane and attached to a casing section 2 which acts asa supporting frame for the parts and which may be attached to a rigid Wall or frame structure. A group of stationary terminals 3, to which motor supply lineleads may be attached, are fixed to the insulating plate 1 and are connected flexible conductors 4 to two groups of movable contact members 5 and 6. The movillustrated in the acc0m-" I provide, accordable contact members in each group are interconnected, m a well known manner, by insulating strips and are moved in vertical planes by connecting rods 7 and 8 which pass through openings in the insulating plate 1 and the upper extremities of which are attached to two similar operating lovers shaft 1 and their opposite extremities are attached to the upper ends of the connectnected by a lost-motion connection ing rods 7 and 8. v The actuation of these levers is efiected indirectly by a handle lever 15 which is rigidly attached to a shaft 16. he operating lever 9 may be rotated about the shaft lt by means of a toggle lever 20 which comprises a pair of links 17 having a slot and pin connection to an intermediate point 18 in the lever 9 and a lever arm 19 to which the opposite ends of'the linksare pivotally connected. The arm 19 of the toggle lever 20 is shaft 21 and an arm 22 of this lever is conmain driving link 23 to a lever 2st which is fixed 'to the shaft 16 and is rotated therewith by the action of the operating handle 15. in this Way, a relatively small movement of the operating handle 15 in one direction effects such a rotative movement of the shaft 16 that the toggle lever 20 raises the group 5 of stationary contact members into engagement with the cone sponding stationary contact members. The

between the lever 9 and the pair of links 17 permits a like move "nient of the handle lever in the opposite direction Without in any way affecting the lever 9, provided the starting group of contact members is open. No means are provided for locking the controller in the motor-starting position, so that the attendant must hold the handle at one end of its travel while the motor accelerates but a spring latch 24; is provided to engage a notch 25 wl'ien the handle is at the opposite extremity This arrangement prevents a from leaving the controller when the starting circuits are closed One end of the toggle lever 20 is pro.- vidcd with a projection 25 to engage either of its travel. careless operator one of a pair of jaw projections 26 which are integral with a lever 2'? that is rigidly fixed to the shaft21 and one pro ecting arm 28 of which forms a bearing for an auxiliary pivotally mounted upon a H shaft 29. The other extremity of the shaft 29 is supported by a projecting arm 30 of a lever 31 which is also keyed to the shaft 21 near the opposite extremity from the toggle lever 20. A second toggle lever 32 is rotatably mounted between the levers'2'7 and 31 on the shaft 21 and is provided with a projecting arm 33 which is connected to an intermediate point inthe operating lever 10 by a pair of links 34 and is also provided with a projecting arm 35, the end of which is notched to be engaged by a trigger 36.

A. bell crank 37 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 29 and is limited in its rotation by a projection 38 on the arm 30 of the lever 31 and is held against this project-ion by a spring 39 which is coiled about the shaft 29. The trigger 36-is attached to the bell crank 37 and is so arranged as to en; gage the, notched extremity of the arm 35 of thelever 32 when the shaft 21 is rotated by the handle lever in passing from the 0d position to the starting position.

There is considerable lost-motion between the rojection 25 on the toggle lever 20 and the jaws 26 of the lever 27 and the projection 25 normally engages one of the jaws 26 when the controller occupies the OE position and causes'the lever 27 and the shaft 21 to which itis fixed to rotate through a predetermined angle as the controller passes from the off position to the starting position but is so arranged that the projection merely takes up the lost-motion between the jaws 26 and itself as the controller passes from the off position to the running position. As the shaft 21 rotates in passing from the ofi' position of the controller to the starting position, the shaft 29 and the bell crank 37 are until the trigger 36 is brought into engagement with the notched end of the arm 35 of the toggle lever 32. If the handle lever is now moved to the 0E position and from the toggle thence to the running position, formed by the arm 33 of the lever 32 and the pair of links 3 L is straightened so that the operating lever 10 is raised and the running group of movable contact members is brought into engagement with the corre sponding stationary contact members.

A pair of similar overload release electromagnets 40 and 41 are connected in series with the motor-running circuits and comprise movable core members 42 and 43' to which hammer rods 44 and 45 are attached. The distances of separation between'the movable core members 42 and 43 and the stationarycore members of the magnet are determined by a justing levers 4:6 and 47 which engage nuts 48 on the upper ends of the hammer rods and which are keyed to a shaft 49. The rotation of the shaft 49 is effected by a pair. of similar forked ad hand ad usting lever which is on the outside of the case and is 51 that is connected to the link keyed to a shaft shaft 49 by a lVhen the controller occupies its running position one arm of the bell crank lever 3'? is in line with the hammer rod 44 so that in case of overload the upper end of the hammer rod strikes the bell crank and the trigger 36 is Withdrawn from the notched end projection ofthe arm 35 of the toggle lever 32. A lever '53, which is similar'to the-lever 37, is also attached to the shaft 29 and is located in alinement with the hammer rod 45.

A stationary pro the casing section 2 and is adapted to trip the release-mechanism whenever the controller is moved ashoit distance from its running position toward the off position, by engaging a small tripping finger which is pivotally mounted upon the bell crank lever Y37 and is adapted to move of engagement with the arm 35 to allow the circuit to open without delay, in a manner similar to that in which it is opened by the tripping magnets in case of overload upon the circuits. This arrangement is specially advantageous because the opening is independent of the action of the attendant in throwing the controller from the running to the oil position. Furthermore, the mechanism is always released in this manner so that it is impossible for the attendant to complete the motor-running circuits before he has accelerated the motor by moving the controller to the starting position.

It will be observed that the length of the slots in. the links 17 is such as to forcibly open the starting circuits, even if the cooperating contact members should be welded together, before the running circuit can be closed. In normal operation the weight of the moving parts separates the contacts as soon as they are released.

Although, in the controller illustrated, the automatic release mechanism is only actuated in opening the motor running circuits,

iection 54 is attached to it may be of advantage to similarly arrange for making the opening of the starting circuits automatic as soon as the operating lever has moved through a small angle, and I desire that such variations and other variations which do not depart from the spirit of my invention shall be included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a plurality of stationary contact members movable contact members cooperating therewith, an operating handle for effecting concurrent engagement of the cooperating members, and means i or interlocking the handle and the movable contact members, of means for tripping said interlocking means the operation of Whichis,

latch the operation of which is the trigger 36 out dependent upon a relatively slight move ment of the operating handle toward its off position. 1

2. The combination with stationary C011 tact terminals, a corresponding number of movable contact members cooperating therewith, an operating handle for eli'ecting the engagement of the cooperating members, interlocking means between the handle and the movable members andalatch for the operating handle which normally holds the cooperating contact members in engagement with each other, of means for tripping said dependent upon a relatively slight movement of the operating handle towardits off position.

3. The combination with a corresponding number of stationary and movable contact members which are normally separated, an operating handle for etlecting the engagement of the members and means for locking the members in engagement with each other, of means for permitting the members to separate independently of the operating handle the operation of which depends upon a relatively slight movement ing handle toward its off position.

4. In a controller for electric motors, the combination with. an operating handle, stationary contact members, movable contactmembers and a device for locking said members in engagement with each other,. of means for automatically releasing said device under predetermined. conditions dependent upon either the current traversing the control circuits or upon a slight movement of the operating handle toward its oil position.

5. In a controller for electric motors, the combination with stationary contact members, a corresponding number of coiiperating movable contact members normally separated therefrom, a device for holding the members in engagement with each other and an operating handle lever, of means for tripping said device to release the movable members, the operation of which is dependent upon, a slight movement of the handle.

In a controller, the combination with a corresponding number of stationary and movable contact members, an operating handle, and an automatic overload release mechanism, of means of actuating said by the rotation ofthe handle through a small predetermined angle.

7. In a controller, the combination with a corresponding number of stationary and movable contact members, an operating handle, and an automatic overload mechanism, of means for actuating said mechanism to separate the contact members andto open the control circuits by moving the operating handle through a small angle of the operatrelease mechanism to separate the contact members gals from the running position toward the ofi position. a

8. In a controller for electric motors, the combination witha group of movable and stationary motor-starting contact members, a group of movable and stationary motorrunning contact members, and a single operating lever for effecting engagement between either group of movable contact members and the cooperating group of stationary members, of means dependent upon a slight movement of the operating lever for automatically returning the motor-running group of movable contact members'to opencircuit position.

9. In a controller for electric circuits, the combinationqwith two groups of separable contact terminals, and an operating handle lever, a predetermined movement of which in either direction efi'ects the engagement of one of the groups of contact terminals," of means for automatically separating one of said groups, the operation of said means being dependent either upon'a predetermined value of current traversing the control circuits or upon a relatively slight f movement of the operating handle lever.

10. In a controller for'eiectric motors, the combination with two groups of stationary and movable contact members, an operating handle lever, and means dependentupon the movement of the operating handle lever through a relatively short are in the one or the other direction for severally effecting engagement of the groups, of means dependent upon a slight movement of the operating handle from one of its extreme positions toward its central position for completely separating the cooperating contact members; 11. In a circuit controller, the combination with stationary movable contact members adapted to cooperate with said terminal members and connected thereto by flexible conductors, and an operating handle so connected to the movable contact members that movement thereof through a relatively small angle in one direction moves certain of the contact members into engagement with their coiiperating stationary members, and a similar movement in the reverse direction moves the remainder of the movable members into engagement with their cooperating stationary members, of means for preventing the engagement of one set of said members until the other set has been moved into and out of engagement with each other.

12. In a controller for electric motors, the combination with a plurality of stationary terminal members to which elmtrical energy is supplied, two groups of movable conta t members connected thereto by flexible conductors, and two groupsofcooperating sta-- tionary contact members from which energy operating shaft and each group of mova terminal members,

"ary ally-operated means for Learner may be supplied for respectively starting and operating an electric motor, of means for preventing the engagement of one group of cotiperating contact members until the other group has been closedandopened.

13. A controller for electric motors comprising stationary contact members, movable contactv members eoiiperating therewith and normally separated therefrom by the action of gravity when released, a manually-operated shaft and'a lost-motion connection between the movable members and the shaft for positively separating I sai members if their normal separation is de-' layed.

- 14. In a controller for electric motors, the combination with stationary contact members and coiiperating movable contact members normally separated therefrom when re leased; of means for releasing the movable contact members and for forcibly separating the contact members if their normal separation is delayed.

15. In a controller for electric-motors, the combination with two stationary contact members and corresponding movable contact members normally separated therefrom, of means for actuating either of the mov-V able members to engage the stationary members, said. means serving {also to forcibly separate one of the groups if its normal separation is delayed.

ltirA. starting controller for motors comprising and movable starting contact members, a similar group of running contact members, an operating shaft, gearing between age electric contact members, and means for automatically disassociati'ng the operating shaft from the running contact members when the controller is moved from running position to off position.

17. A starting controller for electric motors comprising a group of stationary and movable starting contact members", a similar group of an operating shaft, gearing operating shaft and each group of movable contact members, and means for automatically disassoe'iating the operating, shaft from the running group of movable contact members whenthe controller is moved from running to 'olf position, and" means dependent upon t-roller to'the' starting position for reasso ciating the operating shaft and the running group of movable contact members.

'18. In a controller for electric motors, the combination with coiiperating stationand movable contact members, manubringing the members into engagement with each other and means for holding the members in engagea group of stationary running contact members between the the movement of the conment, of a lost-motion connection between the manually-operated means and movable contact members for forcibly separating the contact members if their normal separa- 5 tion is delayed When the holding means is released.

In testimony whereof, 1 have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of May, 1906.

WILLIAM A. PARIS. Witnesses:

EDWIN LEHR,

BIRNEY HINES.

y addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 1). C. 

